Abstract:
This study investigates the perceptions of South African Police Service officials towards HIV/AIDS at Mthatha Central Accounting Police Station towards HIV/AIDS. Selection of the respondents was done through stratified random sampling. Data was obtained from a sample of 115 police officials. These officials were of different ranks from the level of Constable up to that of the Director of the South African Police Service. Male respondents were in the majority, and Grade 12 was the dominant highest qualification amongst the police officials. The main research instrument was a questionnaire. The questionnaire had three sections: the first was compiling profile, the second poses closed-ended questions generally requiring "yes/no" responses, and the third asks open-ended questions requiring perceptions about HIV/AIDS. Collection of data was done through semi-structured interview schedule. Data were analysed using Excel where tables and graphs were used for closed-ended questions, while themes were formed in the analysis of open-ended questions. The findings of the study revealed that the police officials had different impressions about HIV/AIDS Furthermore, police officials indicated that they would treat cases of HIV/AIDS differently and generally believe that condoms are not reliable
